Almost a quarter of gas stations already charge more than 150 cents per liter for gasoline
- Only eleven supermarkets charge less than 140 cents per liter for petrol, the AA says
- Gasoline prices are the highest since November 2023, just under 150 cents per liter
- Some of the fuel savings in the spring will be wiped out within a month – and a tough year lies ahead
The AA’s Fuel Price Report shows that almost a quarter (23.8 percent) of petrol stations already charge more than 150 cents per litre.
Yesterday the AA warned that the average cost of a liter of petrol was teetering on the edge of 150 cents after rising by almost 10 cents per liter so far this year.
But many motorists already pay more than this amount to refuel, according to her research among petrol stations in Great Britain.
The AA examined pump price data from 2,910 supermarket and non-supermarket petrol stations, but found that 693 stations had already priced their petrol above 150 pence per liter this week.
Amid rising fuel prices – petrol is currently at a five-month high of 149.2p and diesel at 157.7p liter – motorists want to choose the cheapest place to fill up. But the AA found that only eleven supermarkets charge less than 140 cents per litre
Towns lucky enough to have supermarket petrol available for less than 140 pence a liter on Monday were in short supply: Coleraine (Northern Ireland), Beeston, Huddersfield, Wolverhampton, Limavady (NI), Londonderry (NI), Banbridge (NI) , Antrim (NI) and Bramley (near Guildford).
An analysis of pump price data from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) early this week showed that only 11 supermarket stations are currently offering petrol for less than 140 cents per litre.
Two pump price indicators (CMA and government data) show that the average petrol price has risen by around 3.7 cents per liter in the past month, while diesel has risen by around 3.3 cents.
Average gasoline costs are currently at a five-month high of 149.2 cents, according to government data.
This compares with 140.8p at the start of the year, while average pump prices for diesel have risen to 157.7p per litre.
This is the first time since February 2023 that motorists have been worse off than in the same period last year – even though petrol averaged more than 150 cents per liter in November.
A car’s fuel consumption changes with the time of year. Cars are thirstier in winter. In summer their efficiency is better. Gasoline traditionally becomes cheaper in the winter outside of the US summer season. That normally offsets some of the higher costs of cars that use more fuel.
Last spring, gasoline was on a downward trend and significantly cheaper than it would be in the spring of 2022. That and more miles per gallon delivered a double benefit of significantly improving the lot of motorists — but this spring that appears to be far from the same. case.
What should be cheaper in the spring is being held back by rising pump prices.
Luke Bosdet, the AA’s spokesman on pump prices, said: ‘The 10 cents per liter increase in petrol prices since the start of the year, with more than a third in the last four weeks alone, is not true. British motorists wanted to be consumers.
“They were hoping their fuel fortunes had finally made the turn to the straight and not undergone a U-turn.”
The fuel price increase was due to a rise in oil prices. The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil is currently just under $91, compared to $75 at the start of the year, the highest since last October.
RAC fuel price spokesman Simon Williams said: ‘Increased tensions in the Middle East are only likely to see oil prices rise, which could see petrol prices rise well above 150 cents per litre.’